فَقُلْتُSo I saidكَرِيمٌgenerousلَهُfor himهِمَّةٌis an aspiration......يَنَالُhe attainsفَأُدْرِكُso I reachمَاwhatأَطْلُبُI seek
So I said, generous is he who has an ambition... he attains, so I reach what I seek.
فَنِلْتَSo you attainedوَأَقْصَيْتَنِيand you distanced meجَانِباًaside......كَأَنِّيas if Iذُوpossessor ofعَرَّةٍmangeأَجْرَبُmangy
So you attained and pushed me aside... as if I were a mangy one with mange.
[مَحَاسِنُ[The merits ofالثِّقَةِtrustبِاللَّهِin GodعَزَّMightyوَجَلَّ]and Majestic]
[The merits of trust in God, Mighty and Majestic]
قِيلَ:It was said:خَطَبَdelivered a sermonسُلَيْمَانُSulaymanبْنُson ofعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malikفَقَالَ:and said:
It was said: Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik delivered a sermon and said:
الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِis to Godالَّذِيwhoأَنْقَذَنِيsaved meمِنْfromنَارِهِHis fireبِخِلَافَتِهِ.by His caliphate.
Praise be to God who saved me from His fire through His caliphate.
وَقَالَAnd saidالْوَلِيدُal-Walidبْنُson ofعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِ:al-Malik:لَأُشَفِّعَنَّI will surely intercedeلِلْحَجَّاجِfor al-Hajjajبْنِson ofيُوسُفَYusufوَقُرَّةَand Qurrahبْنِson ofشَرِيكٍ.Sharik.
And al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik said: I will surely intercede for al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf and Qurrah ibn Sharik.
وَقَالَAnd saidالْحَجَّاجُ:al-Hajjaj:يَقُولُونَThey sayمَاتَdiedالْحَجَّاجُ!al-Hajjaj!فَمَهْSo whatمَاnotأَرْجُوI hope forالْخَيْرَthe goodكُلَّهُall of itإِلَّاexceptبَعْدَafterالْمَوْتِ!death!
And al-Hajjaj said: They say al-Hajjaj has died! So what? I do not hope for all good except after death!
وَاللَّهِBy Godمَاdid notرَضِيَapproveاللَّهُGodالْبَقَاءَremainingإِلَّاexceptلِأَهْوَنِfor the most insignificantخَلْقِهِof His creationعَلَيْهِto HimإِبْلِيسَIblisإِذْwhenقَالَ:he said:رَبِّMy Lordأَنْظِرْنِيrespite meإِلَىuntilيَوْمِthe dayيُبْعَثُونَ.they are resurrected.
By God, God did not approve of remaining except for the most insignificant of His creation to Him, Iblis, when he said: My Lord, respite me until the day they are resurrected.
قَالَ:He said:فَإِنَّكَIndeed youمِنَare ofالْمُنْظَرِينَthe respited onesإِلَىuntilيَوْمِthe dayالْوَقْتِof the timeالْمَعْلُومِ.known.
He said: Indeed, you are of the respited ones until the day of the known time.
وَقَالَAnd saidأَبُوAbuجَعْفَرٍJa'farالْمَنْصُورُ:al-Mansur:الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِis to Godالَّذِيwhoأَجَارَنِيgranted me refugeبِخِلَافَتِهِby His caliphateوَأَنْقَذَنِيand saved meمِنَfromالنَّارِthe fireبِهَا.thereby.
And Abu Ja'far al-Mansur said: Praise be to God who granted me refuge through His caliphate and saved me from the fire thereby.
وَحَدَّثَنَاAnd narrated to usإِبْرَاهِيمُIbrahimبْنُson ofعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllahرُفِعَthe hadith was raisedالْحَدِيثُthe hadithإِلَىtoأَنَسِAnasبْنِson ofمَالِكٍMalikقَالَ:who said:
And Ibrahim ibn Abdullah narrated to us, the hadith was raised to Anas ibn Malik, who said:
دَخَلْنَاWe enteredعَلَىuponفَتًىa young manمِنَfromالْأَنْصَارِthe Ansarوَهُوَwhile he wasثَقِيلٌheavy/gravely illفِيinمَرَضِهِhis illnessفَلَمْand we did notنَخْرُجْleaveمِنْfromعِنْدِهِhis presenceحَتَّىuntilقُضِيَhe passed awayعَلَيْهِ،.
We entered upon a young man from the Ansar while he was gravely ill in his illness, and we did not leave his presence until he passed away.
وَإِذَاAnd beholdعَجُوزٌan old womanعِنْدَatرَأْسِهِ،his head,فَالْتَفَتَso turnedإِلَيْهَاto herبَعْضُsome ofالْقَوْمِthe peopleوَقَالَ:and said:اسْتَسْلِمِيSubmitلِأَمْرِto the commandاللَّهِof GodعَزَّMightyوَجَلَّand Majesticوَاحْتَسِبِي.and seek reward.
And behold, an old woman was at his head. Some of the people turned to her and said: Submit to the command of God, Mighty and Majestic, and seek your reward.
قَالَتْ:She said:أَمَاتَHas diedابْنِي؟my son?قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ.Yes.قَالَتْ:She said:أَحَقٌّIs it trueمَاwhatتَقُولُونَ؟you say?قُلْنَا:We said:نَعَمْ.Yes.
She said: Has my son died? He said: Yes. She said: Is what you are saying true? We said: Yes.
فَمَدَّتْSo she extendedيَدَهَاher handإِلَىtoالسَّمَاءِthe skyثُمَّthenقَالَتْ:she said:اللَّهُمَّO Godإِنَّكَindeed Youتَعْلَمُknowأَنِّيthat Iأَسْلَمْتُsubmittedلَكَto Youوَهَاجَرْتُand emigratedإِلَىtoنَبِيِّكَYour prophetمُحَمَّدٍ،Muhammad,صَلَّىmay God's blessingsاللَّهُbeعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ،and peace,رَجَاءَin hopeأَنْthatتُعِينَنِيYou help meعِنْدَatكُلِّeveryشِدَّةٍ!hardship!
So she extended her hand to the sky and then said: O God, indeed You know that I submitted to You and emigrated to Your Prophet Muhammad, may God's blessings and peace be upon him, in the hope that You would help me at every hardship!
اللَّهُمَّO Godفَلَاso do notتُحْمِلْنِيburden me withهَذِهِthisالْمُصِيبَةَcalamityالْيَوْمَ!today!
O God, so do not burden me with this calamity today!
فَكَشَفَSo uncoveredابْنُهَاher sonالثَّوْبَthe garmentالَّذِيwhichسَجَّيْنَاهُwe had covered him withبِهِwith itعَنْfromوَجْهِهِhis faceوَمَاand weبَرِحْنَاdid not leaveحَتَّىuntilطَعِمَhe ateوَطَعِمْنَاand we ateمَعَهُ.with him.
So her son uncovered the garment with which we had covered him from his face, and we did not leave until he ate and we ate with him.
وَقِيلَ:And it was said:وَبَيْنَاAnd whileعُمَرُUmarبْنُson ofالْخَطَّابِ،al-Khattab,رَضِيَmay God be pleasedاللَّهُGodعَنْهُ،with him,يَعْرِضُwas reviewingالنَّاسَthe peopleإِذَاwhenهُوَheبِرَجُلٍwith a manمَعَهُwith himصَبِيٌّa young boyلَهُ.of his.
And it was said: While Umar ibn al-Khattab, may God be pleased with him, was reviewing the people, behold, there was a man with him who had a young boy of his.
فَقَالَSaidلَهُto himعُمَرُ،Umar,رَضِيَmay God be pleasedاللَّهُGodعَنْهُ:with him:وَيْحَكَWoe to youمَاwhatرَأَيْتُhave I seenغُرَاباًa crowأَشْبَهَmore resemblingبِغُرَابٍa crowمِنْthanهَذَاthis oneبِكَ!to you!
Umar, may God be pleased with him, said to him: Woe to you, I have never seen a crow more resembling a crow than this one resembles you!
فَقَالَ:So he said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَاللَّهِby Godمَاdid notوَلَدَتْهُgive birth to himأُمُّهُhis motherإِلَّاexceptوَهِيَwhile she wasمَيِّتَةٌ.dead.
So he said: O Commander of the Faithful, by God, his mother did not give birth to him except while she was dead.
فَاسْتَوَىSo straightened upعُمَرُ،Umar,رَحِمَهُmay God have mercyاللَّهُon himجَالِساًsittingوَقَالَ:and said:وَيْحَكَWoe to youحَدِّثْنِي!narrate to me!
So Umar, may God have mercy on him, sat up straight and said: Woe to you, narrate to me!
قَالَ:He said:خَرَجْتُI went outفِيonغَزَاةٍa military expeditionوَأُمُّهُwhile his motherحَامِلٌwas pregnantبِهِ،with him,فَقَالَتْ:so she said:تَخْرُجُDo you go outوَتَدَعُنِيand leave meعَلَىinهَذِهِthisالْحَالَةِconditionحَامِلاًpregnantمُثْقِلاً؟heavy?
He said: I went out on an expedition while his mother was pregnant with him. She said: Do you go out and leave me in this condition, heavily pregnant?
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:أَسْتَوْدِعُI entrustاللَّهَto Godمَاwhatفِيis inبَطْنِكَ.your womb.فَغِبْتُSo I was absentثُمَّthenقَدِمْتُI returnedوَإِذَاand beholdبَابِيmy doorمُغْلَقٌ،was closed,فَقُلْتُ:so I said:مَاwhatهَذَاis thisوَمَاand whatفَعَلَتْhas happened toفُلَانَةُ؟so-and-so?
So I said: I entrust what is in your womb to God. Then I was absent and returned, and behold, my door was closed. So I said: What is this, and what happened to so-and-so?
قَالُوا:They said:مَاتَتْ.She died.فَذَهَبْتُSo I wentإِلَىtoقَبْرِهَاher graveوَكُنْتُand I wasعِنْدَهُ،near it,فَلَمَّاand whenكَانَit wasمِنَfromاللَّيْلِthe nightقَعَدْتُI satمَعَwithبَنِيsons ofعَمِّيmy paternal uncleأَتَحَدَّثُtalkingوَلَيْسَand there was notيَسْتُرُنَاconcealing usمِنَfromالْبَقِيعِal-Baqiشَيْءٌ،anything,فَرَفَعَتْso there roseلِيfor meنَارٌa fireبَيْنَbetweenالْقُبُورِ،the graves,فَقُلْتُso I saidلِبَنِيto sons ofعَمِّي:my paternal uncle:مَاwhatهَذِهِis thisالنَّارُ؟fire?
They said: She died. So I went to her grave and stayed near it. When night came, I sat with my paternal uncle's sons talking, and nothing concealed us from al-Baqi cemetery. A fire rose for me between the graves, so I said to my uncle's sons: What is this fire?
فَقَالَSo saidأَحَدُهُمْ:one of them:يَاOأَبَاAbuفُلَانٍso-and-soنَرَىwe seeعَلَىuponقَبْرِthe graveفُلَانَةَof so-and-soكُلَّeveryلَيْلَةٍnightنَاراً!a fire!فَقُلْتُ:So I said:إِنَّاIndeed, weلِلَّهِbelong to Godوَإِنَّاand indeed to Himإِلَيْهِweرَاجِعُونَ،return,وَاللَّهِby Godلَقَدْindeedكَانَتْshe wasصَوَّامَةًmuch-fastingقَوَّامَةًmuch-prayingعَفِيفَةً،chaste,وَاللَّهِby GodلَأَنْبِشَنَّI will surely dig upقَبْرَهَاher graveوَلَأَنْظُرَنَّand I will surely look atمَاwhatحَالُهَا.her condition is.
One of them said: O Abu so-and-so, we see a fire upon the grave of so-and-so every night! So I said: Indeed, we belong to God and indeed to Him we return. By God, she was much-fasting, much-praying, and chaste. By God, I will surely dig up her grave and see what her condition is.
فَأَخَذْتُSo I tookفَأْساًa mattock/pickaxeوَأَتَيْتُand I came toالْقَبْرَthe graveفَإِذَاand beholdهُوَitمَفْتُوحٌwas openوَالْمَرْأَةُand the womanمَيِّتَةٌwas deadوَهَذَاand thisحَيٌّis aliveيَدُبُّcrawlingحَوْلَهَا،around her,فَنَادَىso called outمُنَادٍ:a caller:
So I took a pickaxe and came to the grave, and behold, it was open, the woman was dead, and this one was alive, crawling around her. A caller called out:
أَيُّهَاOالْمُسْتَوْدِعُone who entrustedرَبَّهُhis Lordوَدِيعَتَهُwith his trustخُذْtakeوَدِيعَتَكَ،your trust,أَمَاverilyإِنَّكَthat youلَوْifاسْتَوْدَعْتَهُyou had entrusted Him withأُمَّهُits motherلَوَجَدْتَهَا!you would have found her!
O you who entrusted your Lord with your trust, take your trust! Verily, had you entrusted Him with its mother, you would have found her!
فَأَخَذْتُهُSo I took himوَعَادَand returnedالْقَبْرُthe graveكَمَاasكَانَ،it was,وَهُوَand heوَاللَّهِby GodيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulهَذَا.is this one.
So I took him and the grave returned as it was, and by God, O Commander of the Faithful, he is this one.
[مَسَاوِئُ[The evils ofالثِّقَةِ]trust]
[The evils of trust]
قَالَ:He said:قَالَsaidعِيسَىJesusبْنُson ofمَرْيَمَ،Mary,عَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُ:be peace:يَاOمَعْشَرَcompany ofالْحَوَارِيِّينَthe disciplesإِنَّindeedابْنَson ofآدَمَAdamخُلِقَwas createdفِيinالدُّنْيَاthe worldفِيinأَرْبَعَةِfourمَنَازِلَstagesهُوَheفِيinثَلَاثَةٍthreeمِنْهَاof themوَاثِقٌtrustingبِاللَّهِin GodعَزَّMightyوَجَلَّand Majestic
He said: Jesus son of Mary, upon him be peace, said: O company of the disciples, indeed the son of Adam was created in the world in four stages, in three of which he trusts in God, Mighty and Majestic,
وَهُوَwhile heفِيinالرَّابِعِthe fourthسَيِّءُevil ofالظَّنِّsuspicionيَخَافُhe fearsخِذْلَانَabandonment byاللَّهِGodعَزَّMightyوَجَلَّand Majesticإِيَّاهُ،of him,فَأَمَّاas forالْمَنْزِلَةُthe stageالْأُولَىfirstفَإِنَّهُfor indeed heخُلِقَwas createdفِيinبَطْنِbelly ofأُمِّهِhis motherخَلْقاًa creationمِنْfromبَعْدِafterخَلْقٍcreationفِيinظُلُمَاتٍdarknessesثَلَاثٍ:three:ظُلْمَةِdarkness ofالْبَطْنِ،the belly,وَظُلْمَةِand darkness ofالرَّحِمِ،the womb,وَظُلْمَةِand darkness ofالْمَشِيمَةِ،the placenta,يُنْزِلُsends downاللَّهُGodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyعَلَيْهِupon himرِزْقَهُHis provisionفِيinجَوْفِhollow ofظُلْمَةِdarkness ofالْبَطْنِ،the belly,
while in the fourth he is suspicious, fearing the abandonment of God, Mighty and Majestic, towards him. As for the first stage, indeed he was created in the belly of his mother, creation after creation, in three darknesses: the darkness of the belly, the darkness of the womb, and the darkness of the placenta. God, Majestic and Mighty, sends down His provision to him in the hollow of the darkness of the belly,
فَإِذَاso whenخَرَجَhe emergesمِنْfromظُلْمَةِdarkness ofالْبَطْنِthe bellyوَقَعَhe fallsفِيintoاللَّبَنِmilkلَاnotيَخْطُوwalkingإِلَيْهِto itبِقَدَمٍwith a footوَلَاnorسَاقٍa shinوَلَاnorيَتَنَاوَلُهُreaching itبِيَدٍwith a handوَلَاnorيَنْهَضُrisingبِقُوَّةٍwith strengthوَيُكْرَهُand it is forcedعَلَيْهِupon himإِكْرَاهاًcompulsorilyوَيُوجَرُand it is pouredإِيجَاراًas a forced drenchingحَتَّىuntilيَنْبُتَgrowsعَلَيْهِtherebyعَظْمُهُhis boneوَدَمُهُand his bloodوَلَحْمُهُ،and his flesh,
so when he emerges from the darkness of the belly, he falls into milk, not walking towards it with a foot or a shin, nor reaching it with a hand, nor rising with strength; rather, it is forced upon him compulsorily and poured into him until his bone, blood, and flesh grow from it.
فَإِذَاso whenارْتَفَعَhe risesمِنَfromاللَّبَنِmilkوَقَعَhe fallsفِيintoالْمَنْزِلَةِthe stageالثَّالِثَةِthirdفِيinالطَّعَامِfoodبَيْنَbetweenأَبَوَيْهِhis parentsيَكْتَسِبَانِthey earnعَلَيْهِfor himمِنْfromحَلَالٍlawfulوَحَرَامٍ،and unlawful,فَإِنْso ifمَاتَdieأَبَوَاهُhis parentsعَنْleavingغَيْرِother thanشَيْءٍanythingعَطَفَshowed kindnessعَلَيْهِto himالنَّاسُthe peopleهَذَاthis oneيُطْعِمُهُfeeds himوَهَذَاand this oneيَسْقِيهِgives him drinkوَهَذَاand this oneيُؤْوِيهِ،gives him shelter,
So when he passes beyond milk, he falls into the third stage regarding food between his parents, who earn for him from the lawful and the unlawful. If his parents die leaving nothing, the people show kindness to him: this one feeds him, this one gives him drink, and this one gives him shelter.
فَإِذَاso whenوَقَعَhe fallsفِيintoالْمَنْزِلَةِthe stageالرَّابِعَةِfourthوَاشْتَدَّand grows strongوَاسْتَوَىand reaches maturityوَكَانَand isرَجُلاًa manخَشِيَhe fearsأَنْthatلَاnotيُرْزَقَhe will be provided forيَثِبُhe leapsعَلَىuponالنَّاسِthe peopleيَخُونُhe betraysأَمَانَاتِهِمْtheir trustsوَيَسْرِقُand stealsأَمْتِعَتَهُمْtheir belongingsوَيُكَابِرُهُمْand overpowers themعَلَىforأَمْوَالِهِمْtheir wealthمَخَافَةَout of fear ofخِذْلَانِabandonment byاللَّهِGodعَزَّMightyوَجَلَّand Majesticإِيَّاهُ.of him.
So when he falls into the fourth stage, grows strong, reaches maturity, and becomes a man, he fears that he will not be provided for, so he leaps upon the people, betraying their trusts, stealing their belongings, and overpowering them for their wealth out of fear of the abandonment of God, Mighty and Majestic, towards him.
[مَحَاسِنُ[The merits ofطَلَبِseekingالرِّزْقِ]provision]
[The merits of seeking provision]
بَلَغَنَاIt reached usعَنِfromابْنِson ofالسَّمَاكِal-Sammakأَنَّهُthat heقَالَ:said:لَاdo notتَشْتَغِلْbe preoccupiedبِالرِّزْقِwith the provisionالْمَضْمُونِguaranteedعَنِfromالْعَمَلِthe deedالْمَفْرُوضِ،obligatory,
It reached us from Ibn al-Sammak that he said: Do not be preoccupied with the guaranteed provision to the neglect of the obligatory deed,
وَكُنِand beالْيَوْمَtodayمَشْغُولاًpreoccupiedبِمَاwith whatأَنْتَyouعَنْهُconcerning itغَداًtomorrowمَسْؤُولٌ،will be questioned,وَإِيَّاكَand beware ofوَالْفُضُولَexcess/superfluityفَإِنَّfor indeedحِسَابَهَاits reckoningطَوِيلٌ.is long.
and be today preoccupied with what you will be questioned about tomorrow, and beware of excess, for indeed its reckoning is long.
وَقَالَAnd saidعَمْرُAmrبْنُson ofعُتْبَةَ:Utbah:مَنْWhoeverلَمْdid notيُقَدِّمْهُput forwardالْحَزْمُprudenceأَخَّرَهُput him backالْعَجْزُ.incapacity.
And Amr ibn Utbah said: Whoever prudence did not put forward, incapacity put back.
وَقَالَAnd saidاللَّهُGodتَبَارَكَBlessedوَتَعَالََى:and Exalted:يَاOابْنَson ofآدَمَAdamاحْدُثْundertake/initiateلِيfor Meسَفَراًa journeyأُحْدِثْI will initiateلَكَfor youرِزْقاً.provision.
And God, Blessed and Exalted, said: O son of Adam, initiate a journey for Me, and I will initiate provision for you.
وَفِيAnd inبَعْضِsomeالْحَدِيثِ:hadith:سَافِرُواTravelتَغْنَمُوا،you will gain,وَقَالَand saidالْكُمَيْتُ:al-Kumayt:
And in some hadith: Travel and you will gain. And al-Kumayt said:
وَلَنْAnd will notيُزِيحَdispelهُمُومَworries ofالنَّفْسِthe soulإِذْwhenحَضَرَتْthey are present......حَاجَاتُneeds ofمِثْلِكَone like youإِلَّاexceptالرَّحْلُthe saddleوَالْجَمَلُand the camel
And the worries of the soul, when present, will not be dispelled from the needs of one like you except by the saddle and the camel.
وَقَالَAnd saidالطَّائِيُّ:al-Ta'i:
And al-Ta'i said:
وَطُولُAnd length ofمَقَامِstay ofالْمَرْءِa manفِيinالْحَيِّthe clanمُخْلِقٌmakes worn out......لِدِيبَاجَتَيْهِhis two features/complexionsفَاغْتَرِبْso journey abroadتَتَجَدَّدِand you will be renewed
A man's prolonged stay in his clan makes his complexion worn out... so journey abroad and you will be renewed.
فَإِنِّيFor indeed Iرَأَيْتُsawالشَّمْسَthe sunزِيدَتْis increased inمَحَبَّةًlove......إِلَىtoالنَّاسِthe peopleإِذْsinceلَيْسَتْit is notعَلَيْهِمْupon themبِسَرْمَدِperpetual
For indeed I saw that the sun is loved more by the people since it is not perpetual upon them.